Friday 29th
August 7.45pm Kick off at Shamrock Park
Portadown 3 v Ballymoney United 1
Portadown take a two goal advantage into
the second leg tie
game but Ballymoney United did enough to suggest the tie is far from
over.
Portadown were good value for their 3-1 win, but a failure to cash
in on so many chance late in the game means they still have a lot of
work to do before they secure their place in the second round of
this Co-Operative Insurance Cup tie.
The game was a lively affair watched by another big crowd at
Shamrock Park, an United came closest to opening the scoring on four
minutes through Aiden O Kane when he lobbed the keeper but his
effort bounced just past the post.
Portadown found the net on 27 minutes when Gary McCutcheon rose to
head Wesley Boyle’s cross but this was ruled out for
offside by referee Peter McGrath, who did nothing to endear himself
to the home crowd when he turned down two strong penalty appeals.
Portadown’s pressure finally paid off on 41 minutes when Kevin
Braniff converted an inch perfect cross from Tim Mouncey.The start of the second half seen Portadown increase their lead when
Andrew Sproule pounced on a loose ball and fired home.
With Portadown threatening to run away with the game
Ballymoney stunned the hosts in 67 minutes when Adam
McKinney popped up in a crowded goal mouth to fire the ball past
keeper Armstrong.
Ballymoney’s joy was short lived however as Kevin Braniff scored the
goal of the night to seal the victory. A ball from the right found
Braniff 30 yards from goal, and quick as a flash, he turned to
hammer a marvellous pile-driver into the corner of the net.
2
YELLOW CARDS 
RED CARDS 
